rounds through a gate, closed now and looking like part
of the fence.

The front of the hotel was dark. Swiftly he went past the porch,
moving through the shrubbery with extreme caution. He gained the
corner nearest the creek safely, Scotty behind him. When he peered
around, he had a good view of the dock. Red Kelso and Brad Marbek were
still talking. No one else was in sight. Somewhere inside, a door
banged. Rick stiffened. That must be Carrots, or one of the crew.

He moved forward, spotting a hedge that had marked the edge of the
garden. If they crouched behind that, they would have an unobstructed
view. He dodged a shrub and reached the hedge; it was just waist-high.
He sank to his knees and parted the twigs, searching for a good view
through them. Beside him, Scotty knelt and did the same.

He put his mouth close to Scotty's ear. "This is a good place," he
whispered.

"It's a fine place," a loud voice said. "Get up, both of you!"

Rick whirled, his heart stopping. He looked straight across the front
sight of a rifle into the grinning face of Carrots Kelso!

CHAPTER X

Captured

"I figured it was time for another look around," Carrots said, "so I
came out the side door and went around the back and up the side by the
fence, then crossed over by the front. And just as I got to the
corner, who did I see but our two wise-guy pals!" He poked the rifle
in Rick's back by way of emphasis.

Red Kelso and Brad Marbek looked at the two boys and then at each
other. Marbek looked up the creek nervously. "Better get 'em inside
under cover," he said in his high voice. "Jimmy, take 'em into the
cabin."

Rick was seething inwardly, but he gave no sign. He was angry with
himself. He should have known that there would be a guard.

He walked down the pier, Scotty at his side, the others following. At
Carrots' direction he climbed over the side of the trawler and went
into the small cabin aft of the wheelhouse.

Red Kelso gestured toward a built-in bunk. "Sit down, both of you." He
went to the single window and slid the curtains shut.

Carrots took up a position in the corner from which he could cover the
two boys. Brad Marbek pushed into the cabin and closed the door behind
him. For a dozen heartbeats there was silence.

Red Kelso broke it. "What now?" he asked heavily. "We've got 'em. What
do we do with 'em?"

Rick spoke up with much more boldness than he felt. "Nothing. Half a
dozen people know we came her